Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in implementing replay technology.
Replay systems are set to arrive at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Players will gain the right to challenge specific rulings from the chair umpire, following the practice currently in operation at each of the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This innovation is slated for use on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This move comes just a season following the All England Club rolled out ELC, which brought an end to the 147-year role of line officials.
Reviewable Decisions
Players will not be permitted to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the umpire to review other situations, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot touched an rival's racket or body during play.
- Possible interference end of a point.
Notably, there will be no limit on the amount of challenges a player can request.
Practical Application
An illustrative example occurred in Indian Wells recently, where a top player used the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a difficult call for the official, but thought his opponent had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire watched a replay and determined Draper was guilty of hindrance, awarding the rally to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
This technology are not new for major tournaments. The system was adopted at the American major for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the ATP circuit plans to have the system implemented at every one of its events.
Other Changes
Another change at The Championships 2025 involves the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses instances where fans have sometimes been unsure whether a ball was in or out.
Finally, with precisely 100 days to go until the start of the tournament, organizers have further announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
